THE "BIG FOUR" REPORT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 7

THE "BIG FOUR" REPORT

. ' AUSTRALIAN FINANCE Onitod Press. Association—By Electric Telecracb—CopyrlEbl. j SYDNEY, 10th January. The " Sydney Morning Herald,'' commenting on the report of the "Big Four" Economic Mission, consisting of Sir Arthur Duckhani, Sir Hugo Hirst, Sir Ernest Clarke, and Mr. Dougal Malcolm, describes, it as candid and valuable, tempered with good humour. It adds: "The reforms implied "or suggested will be forced.:upon us .from without, if not cheerfully adopted fromwithiu. We must assume that the report will be accepted in London as one which accurately mirrors Australian conditions, and unless we evincie a readiness to heed its lessons, financial accommodation will become much less easy to obtain." The "Herald" admits that Australia has not been as well financed as. it 1 should have been,..but:it is of opinion that there is still time to repair the mistakes. .. ' „- .

The "Telegraph Pictorial," in a leader on the report, says that it will do all the good in the world if it draws' vigorous criticism. The fact that the report touches on protection and arbitration may seem to some people, like the dentist's boring ■ instrument approaching a nervy corner of a venerable tooth. ■ The "Sun" comments: "There . is not one criticism in the report which 1 thoughtful Australians in : public life and in the Press have not uttered. The report speakß frankly. of '.our mistakes and omissions, but by.keeping in .mind our political difficulties, it should have told us how to remedy them." The "Sun" considers that Mr. Bruce made a tactical mistake in invitiag the critic- t ism, which from its official character and free-trade flavour must do'a_ certain amount of damage to Australia in the ranks of British investors. , ■ : j